Music producer among nine dead in private jet crash

Nine people have died after a private jet crashed minutes after takeoff in the Dominican Republic.

Two crew members and seven passengers, including Puerto Rican music producer Flow La Movie, were killed in Wednesday’s incident.

The accident happened 16 minutes after the plane left Santo Domingo’s La Isabela airport for Miami, USA, the cause of which is currently unknown.

Images showed smoke rising from near a runway and nearby emergency vehicles.

The operator of the small plane, Helidosa Aviation Group, said Jose Angel Hernandez, better known as Flow La Movie, his wife Debbie Von Marie Jimenez and son Jayden Hernandez were among the victims.

One of the victims was Dominican and while the rest were of other nationalities, they were relatives and colleagues of the music producer, the company added.

But it did not give details on why the pilots canceled the flight or the possible causes of the crash.

In a statement, it said: ‘For Helidosa, this crash causes us great pain and sadness,’ adding that the airline had declared a state of emergency before attempting to land at an airport. another airport, Las Americas International.

According to airport operator Aerodom, the Gulfstream GIVSP crashed just outside that airport at 5:25 p.m. local time.

The airport shut down after the crash, canceling hundreds of flights.

The Dominican Republic’s Air Accidents Commission is leading an investigation into the crash.

The other passengers were named Keilyan Hernandez, Yeilianys Jeishlimar Melendez Jimenez, Jesiel Yabdiel Silva and Veronica Estrella.

The two crew members were Luis Alberto Eljuri and Victor Emilio Herrera, the company said.

Mr Hernandez, 38, has produced Urban Latin songs such as “Te Bote” and “Wow Remix”, in which artists Bryant Myers, Arcangel, Nicky Jam, El Alfa and Darell participate.